SELECTIVE OXIDATIVE COUPLING OF METHANE WITH MEMBRANE REACTOR

Membrane reactors for selective oxidation of methane to higher hydrocarbons were designed and successively operated. In this system, methane was converted by oxide ion supplied through the non-porous membrane film. Three types of membrane reactors were developed for the oxidative coupling of methane. The first one consists of a porous tube covered with a thin film of catalyst oxide (Type-I), the second one is a non-porous tube of solid ion conductor covered with a catalyst layer (Type-II) , and the third one is a non-porous tube made of perovskite-type mixed conductor which itself has activity for methane conversion (Type-III). Type-I and II membranes converted methane to C2 hydrocarbons with the selectivity higher than 90%.